Furniture



Feb. 8, 1944. A. M.' BANK 2,341,419

FURNITURE U Filed Dec. 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 "k INVENTOR. 3'2 1 4LBBPT M. BANK a x; BY

4 T TOPNE) Feb. 8, 1944. A. M. BANK 2,341,419

4 TTOPNEY Feb. 8, 1944. A. M. BANK- FURNITURE Filed Dec. 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 32 INVENTOR.

4155/97 M. BANK A TTO'QNEY Feb. 8, 1944. BANK 2,341,419

FURNITURE Filed Dec. 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .Q wfiz'affi 0 I j INVENTOR. @1637 6 4155/97 M. BANK ATTOENEY Patented 1 :15.8, 1944 ruamrnan Albert M. Bank, Jersey City, N. 1., assignor to Sylvia Bank, Jersey City, N. J.

Application December 12, 1941, Serial No. 422,621

12 .Claims.

This invention relates to furniture. It is particularly directed to foundations for seats or backs of upholstered chairs, sofas or the like articles of furniture.

An object of this invention is to provide in furniture of the character described, a spring support for the seat or back having highly improved spring edge construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spring foundation for the back of a chair, having highly improved spring edge at the top, sides and bottom thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a strong and durable spring support of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, comfortable in use and withal practical and emcient to a high degree.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the fea- Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional, elevational view of a a frame for an upholstered chair provided with spring seat and back, embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Fi 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line iii of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5a is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5a5w'of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, partial elevational crosssectional view of the front end of the seat;

Fig. '7 is a front end view taken on the plane 'i1 of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the brack-' ets used to attach the rear ends of the zig-zag springs to the rear of the seat frame;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the brackets used to attach zig-zag springs to the back frame;

Fig. 10 is a erspective view of one of the straps for attaching the zig-zag springs to the inter-- connecting cross wire;

Fig. 11 is a view'similar to Fig.6, but illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view: of the structure shown in Fig. 11; g

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11, but illustrating a further modified construction;

Fig. 14 is a top view of a sofa seat frame embodying'the invention:

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l5-I5 of Fig. 14: and

Fig 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l6l6 of Fig. 14.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, i0 designates a frame for an upholstered chair comprising a spring seat foundation II and a sprin back foundation l2. The spring foundation ll comprises a. seat frame 13 having side walls [4, a front wall l5 and a rear wall IS. The frame I3 is supported at the front on le s IT. The spring back foundation l2 comprises a brack frame l8 having a top member 20, a bottom member 2|, inner side members 22, and outer side members 23, which extend downwardly forming legs '24, to which the rear portion of a seat frame I3 is fixed.

Referring to the seat foundation II, the same comprises a transverse, zig-zag shaped or sinuous supporting spring 25, disposed substantially parallel to the front wall it of the seat frame 13. The end loops or turns 2'! of the spring 25 are bent back beneath the underside of the spring. Said spring may be slightly arched if desired. The ends of spring 25 are attached to the upper edges of the side walls it by means of brackets 25.

One of the brackets 26 is illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The same may be made of sheet metal and comprises a bottom wall 26a contacting the upper edge of wall I 4. Said bottom wall 26a is formed with a central opening 26?), and a pair of openings 26c on opposite sides of the central opening. Extending from one end of the bottom wall is an upwardly and inwardly turned lip 23d formed with an opening 26c, aligned with opening 26b. Extending from the opposite end of the bottom wall 26a, are a pair ment loop 21. The abutment loop cannot be ac cidentally moved sideways out ofthe bracket.

As shown in the drawings, for the purpose of illustration, spring. 25 is spacedfrom front wall. I5 about A of the distance between wall l5 and l6,.although the'position ofthe spring 25 may be varied ii. desired.

Spring 25 may be lashed by a flexible guy 31!; as shown in the drawings.

to the front wall I5,

The guy 32 may comprise a sheet of burlap or other flexible or textile material. The sheet 32 is folded longitudinally about the spring 25, and the registering edge portion 324: thereof, are fastened to the upper edge of wall l5 by nails 33. The spring 25 is thus located between the folds of the sheet 32, and adjacent the fold thereof. The guy 32 prevents the spring 25 from being pulled away from the front wall l5, as will appear hereinafter, while permitting said spring to flex.

. Supported on the rear wall l5 and the transverse spring 25, are a plurality of spaced springs 35, which may likewise be sinuous or zig-zag in shape. The rear ends of the springs 35 may be attached to the top edge of rear wall l6 by brackets 31, to be described in detail hereinafter.

At the rear end of each spring 35 is an inwardly bent abutment loop or turn 36 engaged within a bracket 31. Each spring 35 comprises a main arched portion 38 extending from the bracket 31 to the transverse spring 25. Thus, the forward end 39 of the arch portion 33 of each spring 35 is supported by the transverse spring 25. Extending upwardly and forwardly from the end 33 of each arched portion 33 is an inclined portion 43 having at its forward end, an end loop 4| bent beneath said portion 43.

The bracket 31 illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings may likewise be made of sheet metal, or the like material, and comprises a top wall 43 contacting the top edge of rear wall l6 and a wall 44 extending downwardly from wall 43 and contacting the outer surface of said rear wall l6 of the frame. Wall 44 is formed with a pair of openings, adjacent the lower end thereof, to receive nails 45 or other fastening means driven therethrough for attaching the bracket 31 to the frame. b

Cut from the top wall 43 is a tongue 46, inclined upwardl and rearwardly from said top wall. Cut from the rear wall 44, is another tongue 41, inclined rearwardiy. The arms of end loop 36 of spring are engaged with the two tongues 41. Said tongues are then bent over the arms of loop 36. Arm 41 has an opening 48 to receive a nail or other fastening means driven into the side of frame wall l6. The advantage of the bracket 31 is that no nails have to be driven into the top thereof, as such operation would be difficult because wall 2| of the back frame is closed above rear wall l6 of the seat frame. A hammer may be worked sideways however, sufflciently to depress the tongue 43.

It will be noted that a part of the guy 32 is interposed between spring 25 and portions 33 of springs 35, thus eliminating noise. The portions 39 of spring 35 may be fixed to spring 25 by any suitable clips or hogs rings 45, piercing the cloth 32. The clips or rings embrace crossing portions of the springs 35 and 25. Any suitable number of clips may be used for attaching springs 35 to the transverse spring, three such clips being shown for the purpose of illustration, for each of the springs 35.

It will be noted that the portions 43 of springs 35 may be freely flexed downwardly. Said springs are preferably tempered after the portions 43 are bent upwardly to'the desired angle, so that said portions upon being flexed will return to normal angle when pressure is released.

The upper ends of spring portions 43 are disposed above the front wall l5. They may be interconnected by a cross wire 41 threaded through the loops 4|. The transverse interconnecting wire 41 may be attached to said loops by straps 43. or any other suitable fastenina'means. The strap 43 may be made of a strip of easily bendable metal having loops 43 at the ends thereof.

To attach each loop 4| to the transverse wire 41, one end loop 43 of strap 48 may be first engaged with or threaded onto the outer arm 4| of said loop 4| The strap may then be wound around the other arm of the loop and around the wire 41 and then, the other end loop 43 may be threaded onto the outer arm of the loop 4|, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings.

The seat may be upholstered in the usual manner, but preferably no padding is placed between the spring portion 43 and the guy 32, so as to permit free flexing of said spring portions. Spring portions 43 produce a soft and comfortable spring edge at the front of the seat.

The back foundation |2 comprises a pair of transverse sinuous or zig-zagshaped springs 53 and 5| supported on portions 22 of the back frame "3. Spring 53 is parallel to portion 2| of the back frame, and spaced therefrom about V of the distance between portion 2| and 23 of said back frame. The spring 53 is substantially similar to spring 25 and the ends thereof are fixed within brackets 26 attached to portions 22 of the back frame.

Spring 53 is connected to the bottom portion 2| of the back frame by a guy 53, similar to the guy 32. The transverse spring 5| has a main central portion 5|a from the ends of which there extends forwardly and outwardly, inclined free flexing portions 5"), similar to portions 43 of springs 35. The ends of portions 5|a of spring 5| are attached to portions 22 of back frame likewise by brackets 26. Portions MD of the spring 5| may be flexed rearwardly, and the ends thereof are substantially in alignment with portions 23 of the back frame. Portion 5|a of spring 5| is connected to the top portion 23 of the back frame by a guy 55, likewise similar to the guy 32.

Supported by portion 5|a of spring 5|, and by spring 53, are a plurality of zigzag springs 53 extending up and down. Each has a central portion 56a from the upper ends of which there extends forwardly and upwardly inclined portions 56b, and from the lower ends of which there extends forwardly and downwardly inclined portions 560. The ends 56d of portions 560 of springs 56 rest on the transverse springs 53 and 5|. portions of the guys 53 and 55 being interposed either between springs 55 and springs 53 and 5| S rings 55 are attached to the springs 53, 5| by clips 63, such as hog rings or any other suitable fastening means.

As illustrated in the drawings, each of springs 53 and 5| are attached to the springs 56 by a plurality of said clips 33. Spring 53 and portlon 5|a of spring 5| may be slightly arched, if desired, or substantially straight. The outer turns of portions 5") of springs 5| may be bent backward, as at He. The outer turns of portions 53b may likewise be bent, as at 5611.

Attached to portions 22 of the back frame, somewhat below the brackets 26, which attach spring 5| to said portions of said back frame, are brackets 26 to which there are attached short zig-zag springs 65, likewise inclined upwardly and outwardly, similarly to portions 5| b of spring 5|. Each spring 65 may have a bent back abutment loop 66 at one end engaged within a bracket 26, and the outer end turn of said spring may assure likewise be looped back as at 01. The outer ends of spring 65, 5i and portions 50b of springs 53, are interconnected by a member 10. Member 10 may be made of wire and has a top straight portion II attached to the loops 50d by straps 48. or any other suitable attaching means. Extending from portion II of member I0, are parallel arm portions 12 connected to loops Ho and 67, likewise by straps 43, or any other suitable clips or connectors.

Arms 12 extend substantially down to the middle of the back frame l3, and extending inwardly therefrom, are aligned horizontal portions 13 connected to substantiallycentral portions of the end springs 56, by clips I5 or in any other suitable manner.

At the lower ends of spring portions 500 are bent back loop portions 58c interconnected by a connector member 80 made of wire, or in any other suitable material. Connector member 80 comprises a straight horizontal portion 8| connected to the loops 56c by straps 40 or any other suitable clips or abutment members. Extending from the outer ends of portion are parallel arms 32 terminating short of portions 13 of connectors I0. At the inner ends of arms 32 are inwardly extending aligned portions 33 attached to the end springs by clips or connectors 80.

It will now be understood that portions 56b, as well as portions 560 of springs 53, may be flexed rearwardly to produce a soft resilient back. Likewise, the end portions Bill of the springs as well as the springs 65, provide resiliency at the sides of the back. In upholstering the back, it is preferable not insert anypadding material beneath portions 56b and 56c of springs 58, or beneath portions 5Ib of spring 5|, or beneath spring 35. a

In Figs; 11 and 12 thereis shown a modified construction; In said figures, the seat frame is provided with a transverse supporting spring 25 and a guy member 32, similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings. In Figs. 11 and 12, however, there is substituted for springs 35, springs 90 having portions 9|, similar to portions 33 of, springs 35, and similarly attached at their rear ends to'the rear of the frame. Furthermore, the forward end of spring portion 3| rests on the transverse spring 25, likewise similar to spring 35. I

However, there extends from the forward end of spring portion iii, an upwardly inclined spring portion 92 terminating above the front wall I5 of the seat frame, and extending from the upper end of spring 92, is a rearwardly and downwardly inclined springportion 93 having a bent back loop 93 at its outer end contacting the spring portion 9| at a point spaced rearwardly from the forward end of said spring portion, and attached to said spring portion by clips 95, or in any other suitable manner. The apices of spring portions 92 and 93 are interconnected to a transverse wire 61, connected by clips 95, or in any other suitable manner.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 13, there is substituted for the springs 35, a spring I00 having a portion IIlI likewise similar to spring portion 39 of spring 35. The forward end of spring portion IOI rests on a transverse spring 25, similarly to springs 35, the guy 32, however being omitted.

Extending upwardly and forwardly from the front end of portion IN is a spring portion I02 terminating above the front wall I5 of the seat frame. Extending downwardly and rearwardly from the upper end of portion I02, is a spring portion I03, terminating at I04, substantially at the level of the upper edge of front wall I5. Fixed to the upper end of wall I5,'and extending rearwardly therefrom is a strip spring I05 having a loop or eye I06 at its rear end, receiving the lower end I04 of spring portion I03.

In Figs. 14, 15 and 16 there is shown a seat frame H0, provided with a spring foundation III similar in every respect to the spring foundation shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that the transverse spring 25 being quite long, is supported at int rmediate points by zigzag springs H2, disposed there beneath, and attached at their front and rear ends to the front and rear walls I5 and it of the frame. The spring foundation III has springs 35, the same as in Fig. 1, which are additionally supported by the intermediate springs II2 parallel thereto. The ends of springs 2 may be fixed to the frame by brackets 26.

If desired, the additional supporting springs I [2 may be employed in chair seat frames, as well as in sofa seat frames.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

- As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A spring foundation comprising a frame, a spring connected to a pair of opposite walls of the frame, and being spaced from the other pair of opposite walls, and a plurality of springs each supported at one end on one of the second pair of opposite walls of the frame, and at an intermediate portion thereof on the first spring, each of said plurality of springs having at its opposite end, a free flexing portion extending toward the other of said second pair of opposite walls, and being spaced therefrom, and a border wire interconnecting the outer ends of said free flexing portions.

2. A spring foundation comprising a frame, a spring connected to a pair of opposite walls of the frame, and being spaced from the other pair of opposite walls, a plurality of springs each supported at one end on one of the second pair of opposite walls of the frame, and at an intermediate portion thereof on the first spring, each of said plurality of springs having at its opposite end, a free flexing portion extending toward the other of said second pair of opposite walls, and being spaced therefrom, and flexible guy means interconnecting the first spring to said other of said second pair of opposite walls.

3. A spring foundation comprising a frame, a transverse resilient support attached to a pair of opposite walls of said frame, and spaced from the other pair of opposite walls, and a plurality of resilient members extending generally transversely relative to said resilient support, and being supported on said resilient support, and having free flexing'end portions spaced above one of said other pair of opposite walls and adapted to be flexed toward the frame, and a border wire interconnecting the outer ends of said free flexing portions.

4. A spring foundation comprising a frame, a transverse resilient support attached to a pair of opposite walls of said frame, and spaced from the other pair of opposite walls, a plurality of resilient members extending generally transversely relative to said resilient support, and being supported on said resilient support, and having free flexing end portions spaced above one of said other pair of opposite walls and adapted to be flexed toward the frame, a border wire interconnecting said free flexing portions, and guy means to connect said resilient support to one 01 said other pair of opposite walls of the frame.

5. A spring foundationcomprising a frame, a pair of transverse, parallel springs connected at the ends thereof to a pair of opposite walls of said frame, and being disposed parallel to the other pair of opposite walls of the frame, and a plurality of springs disposed at right angles to said pair of springs, and attached at intermediate portions thereof to said pair of springs, and having at the ends thereof, free flexing portions spaced from said other pair of opposite walls of said frame, and a border wire interconnecting the outer ends of said free flexing portions.

6. A spring foundation comprising a frame, a pair of transverse, parallel springs connected at the ends thereof to a pair of opposite walls of said frame, and being disposed parallel to the other pair of opposite walls of the frame, a plurality of springs disposed at right angles to said pair of springs, and attached at intermediate portions thereof to said pair of springs, and having at the ends thereof, free flexing portions spaced from said other pair of opposite walls of said frame, and guy means to connect said pair of springs to said other pair of opposite walls of said frame.

7. A spring foundation comprising a frame, a pair of transverse, parallel springs connected at the ends thereof to a pair of opposite walls of said frame, and being disposed parallel to the other pair of opposite walls of the frame, a plurality of springs disposed at right angles to said pair of springs, and attached at intermediate portions thereof to said pair of springs, and having at the ends thereof, free flexing portions spaced from said other pair of opposite walls of said frame, and guy means to connect said pair of springs to said other pair of opposite walls of said frame, one of said pair of springs having at the ends thereof free flexing portions extending away from said frame.

8. A spring foundation comprising a frame, a pair of transverse, parallel springs connected at the ends thereof to a pair of opposite walls of said frame, and being disposed parallel to the other pair of opposite walls of the frame, a plurality of springs disposed at right angles to said pair of springs, and attached at intermediate portions thereof to said pair of springs, and having at the ends thereof, free flexing portions spaced from said other pair of opposite walls of said frame, guy means to connect said pair of springs to said other pair of opposite walls of said frame, and an additional pair of symmetrical springs attached to said frame, anddisposed parallel to said free flexing end portions of said pair of,

springs.

9. A spring foundation comprising a frame, a

transverse zigzag spring attached to a pair of opposite walls of the frame and disposed in spaced relation to the other pair of opposite walls of the frame, and a plurality of zigzag shaped springs disposed generally at right angles to the first spring, means to attach the rear ends of said plurality of springs. to one of the other pair of opposite walls of said frame, means to attach intermediate portions of said plurality of springs to said transverse spring, and said plurality of springs having free flexing end portions extending away from said frame and adapted to be flexed towards said frame.

10. A spring foundation comprising a frame, a transverse zigzag spring attached to a pair of opposite walls of the frame and disposed in spaced relation to the other pair of opposite walls of the frame, a plurality of zigzag shaped springs disposed generally at right angles to the first spring, means to attach the rear ends of said plurality of springs to one of the other pair of opposite walls of said frame, means to attach intermediate portions of said plurality of springs to said transverse spring, and said plurality of springs having free flexing end portions extending away from said frame and adapted to be flexed towards said frame, and means to interconnect the outer ends of said free flexing portions of said plurality of springs.

11. A spring, foundation comprising a frame, a. transverse zigzag spring attached to a pair of opposite walls of the frame and disposed in spaced relation to the other pair of opposite walls of the frame, a plurality of zigzag shaped springs disposed generally at right angles to the first spring, means to attach the rear ends of said plurality of springs to one of the other pair of opposite walls of said frame, means to attach intermediate portions of said plurality of springs to said transverse spring, and said plurality of springs having free flexing end portions extending away from said frame and adapted to be flexed towards said frame, means to interconnect the outer ends of said free flexing portions of said plurality of springs, and flexible means interconnecting the transverse spring to one of the first pair of opposite walls of said frame.

12. A spring foundation comprising a frame, a transverse zigzag spring attached to a pair of opposite walls of the frame and disposed in spaced relation to the other pair of opposite walls of the frame, a plurality of zigzag shaped springs disposed generally at right angles to the first spring, means to attach the rear ends of said plurality of springs to one of the other pair of opposite walls of said frame, means to attach intermediate portions of said plurality of springs to said transverse spring, and said plurality of springs having free flexing end portions extending away from said frame and adapted to be flexed towards said frame, means to interconnect the outer ends of said free flexing portions of said plurality of springs, and flexible means interoonnecting the transverse spring to one of the flrst pair of opposite walls of said frame, said last means comprising a folded over sheet of textile material receiving the transverse spring within the fold thereof, and said sheet being attached to said one of said first pair of opposite walls of the frame. v

' ALBERT M, BANK. 

